1 Samuel 3

How the Word of the LORD was first revealed to Samuel.

1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there was] no open vision. 1 Samuel 3:2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli [was] laid down in his place, and his eyes began to grow dim, [that] he could not see; 1 Samuel 3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God [was], and Samuel was laid down [to sleep]; 1 Samuel 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here [am] I. 1 Samuel 3:5 And he ran to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 1 Samuel 3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 1 Samuel 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him. 1 Samuel 3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 1 Samuel 3:9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he should call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:10 And the LORD came, and stood and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

God telleth Samuel the destruction of Eli's house.

1 Samuel 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 1 Samuel 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all [things] which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 1 Samuel 3:13 For I have told him, that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth: because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 1 Samuel 3:14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

Samuel, though loth, telleth Eli the vision.

1 Samuel 3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD: and Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. 1 Samuel 3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here [am] I. 1 Samuel 3:17 And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said to thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou shalt hide [any] thing from me, of all the things that he said to thee. 1 Samuel 3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

Samuel groweth in credit.

1 Samuel 3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground. 1 Samuel 3:20 And all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, knew that Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD. 1 Samuel 3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.